Dear Professor: Where College Students Who Take Courses Online Speak Their Minds

About the Guest:

Ms. Mikaila Wright is a passionate early childhood educator currently teaching pre-K in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. At 26 years old, she boasts a robust nine-year history of online learning, having transitioned from community college to double majoring at North Carolina Central University. Mikaila is currently furthering her education with a graduate degree in Early Childhood Interventions and Family Support. Aside from her professional pursuits, Mikaila enjoys cooking, particularly soul food, and considers shopping to be one of her favorite pastimes.

Episode Summary:

In this enriching installment of the Dear Professor series, Dr. Kellie Alston engages in a dynamic conversation with Mikaila Wright, a pre-K teacher and online education enthusiast. The episode delves into Mikaila's extensive online learning journey, exploring her triumphs, challenges, and the balance she maintains between her professional responsibilities and academic ambitions.

Mikaila shares her journey through online education, detailing her needs for structure and organization in her online courses. She emphasizes the importance of clear directions and organized course material in enhancing student learning outcomes. Mikaila also reflects on her pet peeves, underscoring how a lack of organization can exacerbate the stress associated with complex topics like research. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Alston and Mikaila explore the concept of presence in online instruction, noting that an engaging and inviting professor can greatly influence student participation and success.

Key Takeaways:

Online learning provides invaluable flexibility for students who need to balance work and education.

Structured and organized course materials are essential for online students to succeed and feel less overwhelmed.

Personal engagement from professors, even in an online setting, can push students out of their comfort zones and significantly contribute to their personal growth and confidence.

Mikaila advocates for the critical importance of early childhood education, highlighting the misconceptions around pre-K and kindergarten teaching.

A key to a fulfilling online learning experience lies in the instructors' ability to create a rich and interactive virtual environment, despite the challenges of physical distance.

Give-Away:

Listeners interested in obtaining the "Professor's Week in Review" journal can reach out to Dr. Kellie Alston via email at [email protected] before February 29, 2024, to grab a copy. Please include your mailing address and that you listened to Season 2, Episode 4.

Important Info

Thank you for listening, rating, sharing, commenting, and subscribing!

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

The Professor's Week In Review

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About the Guest:

Jessica Glass is a dynamic and versatile professional who has made a name for herself both as an educator and a model. With over nine years of experience working with children, Jessica's passion for teaching is evident, and her dedication was further solidified by completing her degree in early childhood education from North Carolina Central University in 2022. Alongside her career in education, Jessica has also pursued modeling, participating in high-profile events such as New York Fashion Week and Orlando Swim Week. At 29, she is a mother to a six-year-old daughter and enjoys modeling, spending quality time with her child, and nurturing her professional growth.

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode of the "Dear Professor Series," Dr. Kellie Alston engages in a candid conversation with Jessica Glass, a former online student who recently completed her early childhood education degree. Jessica brings a wealth of experience to the table, not only as a graduate but as a mother juggling responsibilities while pursuing higher education.

The discussion delves into the intricacies of online learning from a student's perspective, as Jessica reflects on her journey through online courses, the challenges and benefits of different delivery modes, and her preferences for the structure and duration of online programs. With the shift towards online education becoming more pronounced, Jessica’s experiences offer valuable insights for educators and institutions aiming to enhance their distance learning offerings.

Jessica emphasizes the importance of strong professor-student relationships, even in a digital environment. She underscores the need for support, effective communication, and structured organization within online courses. The conversation brings to light the nuances of non-traditional students' lives and how online programs can be better tailored to their unique circumstances.

Key Takeaways:

Support and Relationships: Students need to feel supported and connected to both professors and classmates in an online learning environment.

Effective Communication and Organization: Clear instructions, regular updates, and organized course materials are critical for student success in online courses.

Course Structure Preferences: Students may favor a hybrid approach that combines the flexibility of online learning with regular live interaction.

Advising and Guidance: Effective communication and organization from academic advisors are crucial to ensure students stay on their intended graduation path.

Motivation Challenges: Asynchronous courses require a high level of self-motivation, which can be challenging for students prone to procrastination.

Important Info

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Visual of this episode:

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

Resource:

Click here:bit.ly/drkelliealston

Are you interested in enhancing your mindfulness this semester? Incorporate journaling specifically about your work experience in higher ed. Grab your copy of The Professor's Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections on the Higher Ed Experience and make it a mindful semester!

About the Guest:

Ms. Shanita Davis is a dedicated educator with a rich teaching background that spans over 12 years, impacting early childhood education, kindergarten, and first grade. An alumna of North Carolina Central University with a degree in Family Consumer Science, Shanita holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Shaw University. As a testament to her commitment to leadership in education, she has been accepted into the Master's School Administration program at ECU (Eastern Carolina University), starting her journey to expand her role beyond the classroom.

Episode Summary:

In this insightful episode of the Dear Professor series, Dr. Kellie Alston sits down with online student and seasoned teacher, Ms. Shanita Davis, who brings a wealth of experience both as an educator and an eLearning student. Kellie, having been an online instructor since 2004 and an online student during her pursuit of a Ph.D., frames a conversation around the wealth of knowledge Shanita has accumulated through her involvement in various online academic programs.

The episode delves deep into the lived experiences of online learning from Shanita's perspective, articulating the essential support mechanisms that can greatly impact student success and satisfaction. With a particular emphasis on understanding the scheduling complexities faced by working parents, Shanita imparts crucial points for online educators to consider, such as assignment pacing, detailed syllabi, and the importance of rapid communication.

Key Takeaways:

Online students, particularly working parents, need flexibility with deadlines and explicit instructions to manage their educational responsibilities effectively.

The pacing of assignments should provide enough spacing to prevent pressure and rushing from one task to another.

Group work in online courses can potentially cause anxiety due to various dynamics and the need for collaboration without face-to-face interaction.

Timely communication from professors, preferably within 24 hours when emailed by students, is crucial for maintaining an effective online learning environment.

A detailed and comprehensive syllabus is a vital tool for online students to plan and manage their coursework.

Important Info

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Visual of this episode: https://youtu.be/aJMaYYg1ODE

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

Resource: https://bit.ly/drkelliealston

Are you interested in enhancing your mindfulness this semester? Incorporate journaling specifically about your work experience in higher ed. Grab your copy of The Professor's Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections on the Higher Ed Experience and make it a mindful semester!

About The Guest:

Mrs. Toni Jeter is a 39-year-old mother of two and has been married for 20 years. She has been taking online courses since 2006 and has obtained her early childhood certification and bachelor's degree through online programs. Mrs. Jeter is passionate about education and strives to be her true, authentic self in all aspects of her life.

Summary:

In this episode of the Dear Professor series, Dr. Kellie Alston interviews Mrs. Toni Jeter, an online student with extensive experience in taking online courses. Mrs. Jeter shares her insights and experiences as an online student, discussing the convenience and flexibility of online learning, the importance of clear communication and visuals in course design, and the challenges of group work and procrastination. She also emphasizes the need for frequent communication and clear expectations from professors to ensure student success. Mrs. Jeter concludes by expressing her gratitude for the engaging and challenging courses she has taken online, which have made her a better student and teacher.

Key Takeaways:

Online courses provide convenience and flexibility for students, allowing them to balance their personal and professional responsibilities.

Clear communication and visuals are essential in online course design to help students understand expectations and requirements.

Group work can be challenging, especially when there are differences in work styles and procrastination tendencies.

Frequent communication from professors is crucial for student success, providing clarification and support when needed.

Engaging and challenging courses can lead to personal growth and improved skills.

Thank you for following, listening, rating, and sharing.

Important Info

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Visual of this episode: https://youtu.be/RVaoJ72unuk

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

Resource

Are you interested in enhancing your mindfulness this semester? Incorporate journaling specifically about your work experience in higher ed.

Grab your copy of The Professor's Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections on the Higher Ed Experience and make it a mindful semester!

Vervante: https://bit.ly/thewirejournal

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40W4U4y

B&N: https://bit.ly/hardcoverwire

Download: https://bit.ly/thefillablewire

About The Guest: Heather Hall is an artist, an advocate for the neurodivergent community, and a plant enthusiast. She has worked in public schools for six years in exceptional children's departments and now owns her own business as an educational consultant called Triangle Education Advocacy.

Summary: In this episode, Dr. Kellie Alston interviews Heather Hall, an artist and advocate for the neurodivergent community. Heather shares her experiences as an online student and discusses the positive and negative aspects of online learning. She emphasizes the importance of examples, multimedia presentations, and predictable structures in online courses. Heather also highlights the need for clear communication and organization from professors. She concludes by expressing her gratitude for the cooperative learning model, which fosters genuine relationship-building in online courses.

Key Takeaways:

• Examples of work help students understand expectations.
• Presenting information in multiple formats accommodates different learning styles.
• Predictable structures and clear communication make online courses more accessible.
• The cooperative learning model promotes relationship building and supports student success.

Quotes:

• "Being a student is one of the most vulnerable things you will ever do." - Heather Hall
• "The lack of communication is the worst feedback." - Heather Hall
• "The cooperative learning model makes all of us strong in a variety of areas." - Heather Hall

Thank you for following, listening, rating, and sharing.

Important Info

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Visual of this episode: https://youtu.be/raCAetT0Lv4

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

Resource

Are you interested in enhancing your mindfulness this semester? Incorporate journaling specifically about your work experience in higher ed.

Grab your copy of The Professor's Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections on the Higher Ed Experience and make it a mindful semester!

Vervante: https://bit.ly/thewirejournal

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40W4U4y

B&N: https://bit.ly/hardcoverwire

Download: https://bit.ly/thefillablewire

About The Guest: Rosamaria Varona is a passionate and dedicated educator who graduated top of her class in early childhood education. She has experience teaching preschool, fourth, and fifth grade and is known for incorporating art and self-expression into her lessons.

Summary: In this episode of the Dear Professor series, Dr. Kellie Alston interviews Rosamaria Varona, an online student and teacher. Rosamaria shares her experiences as an online student and discusses the rewards and challenges of teaching. She emphasizes the importance of incorporating creativity into the classroom and the need for professors to inspire and push students to do their best. Rosamaria also reflects on her growth and development as a teacher and offers advice to aspiring educators.

Key Takeaways:

• Online professors should be passionate and enthusiastic about their subject matter to inspire students.
• Students need professors who advocate for their success and push them to exceed their limits.
• Busy work is a pet peeve for online students, as it feels meaningless and unengaging.
• Transitioning from online learning to in-person teaching can be a culture shock, but real classroom experience is invaluable.
• Responsibility and preparedness are essential for success in online courses.

Thank you for following, listening, rating, and sharing.

Important Info

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Visual of this episode: https://youtu.be/ZlNXWPpsVqk

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

Resource

Are you interested in enhancing your mindfulness this semester? Incorporate journaling specifically about your work experience in higher ed.

Grab your copy of The Professor's Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections on the Higher Ed Experience and make it a mindful semester!

Vervante: https://bit.ly/thewirejournal

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40W4U4y

B&N: https://bit.ly/hardcoverwire

Download: https://bit.ly/thefillablewire

About The Guest: Christyl Benford is a multifaceted entrepreneur, author, and award-winning singer and songwriter. She is the founder of Zeely Creative, a brand studio that helps service-based business owners build unforgettable brands and websites. Christyl is also a mentor and mindset coach, helping aspiring and new entrepreneurs transition into entrepreneurship and implement strategic actions to launch their businesses.

Christyl's Business: Home - Zeely Creative

Affirmation Cards: 30 Day Affirming Power Affirmation Cards for Christians

Summary: In this episode of the Dear Professor series, Dr. Kellie Alston interviews Christyl Benford, an online student and successful entrepreneur. Christyl shares her experiences as an online student, highlighting the importance of clear instructions, quick response turnarounds, and good professor feedback. She also discusses the impact of graphics and visuals in online courses and the need for online programs to guide students on how to use the knowledge gained to build a business. Christyl concludes by expressing her gratitude to a former professor who challenged her and helped her tap into her highest creative abilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Clear instructions, quick response turnarounds, and good feedback are essential for online students to be successful.
• Graphics and visuals enhance understanding and learning in online courses.
• Online programs should guide students on how to use the knowledge gained to build a business.

Thank you for following, listening, rating, and sharing.

Important Info

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Visual of this episode: https://youtu.be/Y2YWjdSpAe4

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

Resource

Are you interested in enhancing your mindfulness this semester? Incorporate journaling specifically about your work experience in higher ed.

Grab your copy of The Professor's Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections On the Higher Ed Experience and make it a mindful semester!

Vervante: https://bit.ly/thewirejournal

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40W4U4y

B&N: https://bit.ly/hardcoverwire

Download: https://bit.ly/thefillablewire

About The Guest: Keisha Grant is a school readiness coach for Head Start under the Families and Communities Rising platform. She has over ten years of experience in the field of early education, with eight of those years as a pre-K teacher. Keisha is also actively seeking an online master's program and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

Summary: In this episode of the Dear Professor series, Dr. Kellie Alston interviews Keisha Grant, an online student and school readiness coach. Keisha shares her experience as an online student and discusses the wonderful and not-so-wonderful aspects of online programs. She emphasizes the importance of explicit instruction, open communication, and timely feedback for online students. Keisha also talks about a course that pushed her out of her comfort zone and helped her develop valuable skills for her profession. She highlights the need for relevant and practical learning experiences in online courses. Keisha's pet peeves include pointless discussion boards and the lack of communication and feedback from professors. She concludes by expressing her gratitude to a professor who pushed her to do more and encouraged her to apply her learning to real-world experiences.

Key Takeaways:

• Online students need explicit instruction, open communication, and timely feedback to be successful.
• Relevant and practical learning experiences help students apply their knowledge to real-world situations.
• Pointless discussion boards are a pet peeve for online students as they feel like busy work.
• Lack of communication and feedback from professors can hinder students' progress and success.

Thank you for following, listening, rating, and sharing.

Important Info

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Visual of this episode: https://youtu.be/2W-iBXQqMqk

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

Resource

Are you interested in enhancing your mindfulness this semester? Incorporate journaling specifically about your work experience in higher ed.

Grab your copy of The Professor's Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections On the Higher Ed Experience and make it a mindful semester!

Vervante: https://bit.ly/thewirejournal

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40W4U4y

B&N: https://bit.ly/hardcoverwire

Download: https://bit.ly/thefillablewire

About The Guest:

Larae Christie is a senior at North Carolina Central University, majoring in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Child Development. She is also an aspiring artist, model, traveler, and influencer on Instagram. Larae creates fashion and lifestyle content, including "get ready with me" videos and travel vlogs. She recently landed a job as a flight attendant, which has sparked a new passion for her. Larae is dedicated to helping students grow and reach their goals.

Summary:

In this episode of the Dear Professor series, Dr. Kellie Alston interviews Larae Christie, a senior at North Carolina Central University. Larae shares her experiences as an online student and provides insights into what makes an online course successful. She emphasizes the importance of having an organized course layout and a professor who shows personality and relatability. Larae also discusses her transition from a nursing major to pursuing a degree in early childhood education. She shares her excitement about becoming a flight attendant and the challenges of balancing her career aspirations with her education.

Key Takeaways:

• Online courses should have an organized layout to help students navigate easily.
• Professors should show personality and relatability to engage students.
• Personal questions should be addressed during office hours, not in class sessions.
• Lecturing for long periods without engagement can lead to disengaged students.

Thank you for following, listening, rating, and sharing.

Important Info

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Visual of this episode: https://youtu.be/NiKd6X_cH5o

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

Resource

Are you interested in enhancing your mindfulness this semester? Incorporate journaling specifically about your work experience in higher ed.

Grab your copy of The Professor's Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections On the Higher Ed Experience and make it a mindful semester!

Vervante: https://bit.ly/thewirejournal

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40W4U4y

B&N: https://bit.ly/hardcoverwire

Download: https://bit.ly/thefillablewire

About The Guest:

Heather Lee is an online student pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is also a training and curriculum specialist at a child development center. Heather is passionate about gardening and enjoys traveling with her husband.

Summary:

In this episode of the Dear Professor series, Dr. Kellie Alston interviews Heather Lee, an online student pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. Heather shares her experiences as an online student and discusses her love for gardening and her career goals in the child development field. She rates her overall experience with online courses as an eight out of ten, highlighting the flexibility it offers. Heather also discusses her needs as an online student, including the importance of organization and the use of journals and binders to stay on top of assignments. She emphasizes the need for clear communication and references in online courses to ensure understanding and success. Heather also shares her pet peeve, which is the lack of effective communication in online learning environments.

Key Takeaways:

1. Online courses provide flexibility and cater to different lifestyles.
2. Organization is essential for success in online courses, with the use of journals and binders.
3. Clear communication and references are crucial for understanding and meeting assignment expectations.
4. Lack of effective communication can be a major challenge in online learning environments.

Thank you for following, listening, rating, and sharing.

Important Info

Website: kelliealston.com

Email: [email protected]

Visual of this episode: https://bit.ly/DPEP8

Music Credit: Maskros by Bowmull https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ZdbTFzb4Ne/

Resource

Are you interested in enhancing your mindfulness this semester? Incorporate journaling specifically about your work experience in higher ed.

Grab your copy of The Professor's Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections On the Higher Ed Experience and make it a mindful semester!

· Vervante: https://bit.ly/thewirejournal

· Amazon: https://amzn.to/40W4U4y

· B&N: https://bit.ly/hardcoverwire

Download: https://bit.ly/thefillablewire